Caboolture Hospital expands with growing community

The Caboolture Hospital redevelopment provides the fast growing community with access to a modern health facility and new specialist healthcare services, allowing patients to be treated closer to home, rather than traveling to larger facilities for treatment.

In late 2023, a new multi-storey car park opened, followed by the new five-storey clinical services building.

With Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people making up 4.7% of the Caboolture community, it was essential the redevelopment helps to close the gap in health inequities experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples through the provision of culturally appropriate health infrastructure design.

Project consultation and engagement was undertaken with Traditional Owners, Elders, and the community to ensure all voices were heard during the design and build phase of the project.

Caboolture Hospital Redevelopment Project Director Fiona Brewin-Brown said the project team sought input from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stakeholders to better understand how to strengthen culture in the built environment and create a stronger sense of cultural safety and inclusion.

“The initial focus was to consult Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff to design the new Health Services Unit, to make sure the space provided the right environment for staff to deliver culturally appropriate care and that they felt safe within that space,” Ms Brewin-Brown said.

The outcome of the consultation process was to expand how culture could be included in the built environment through the inclusion of artwork, language, and landscaping.

“Artwork and cultural motifs, created by local Aboriginal artist Elaine Chambers-Hegarty, have been incorporated into the built environment, including large-scale murals on the exterior of the multi-storey car park and the clinical services building, and inside the new central corridor that connects the buildings. Torres Strait Islander artwork and cultural emblems are also included throughout the building,” Ms Brewin-Brown said.

“Kabi Kabi language has been used throughout the building with ‘Wunya’ – meaning welcome – on the main entry sign and the ward signs.

“The landscaping selection includes plants that are culturally significant for medicine, food and craft.”

The new Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Services Unit (which will be delivered in Stage 2 of the redevelopment) will be built close to the main entry of the clinical services building, as well as with close connection to outdoor corridors.